Door handle assembly



Dec- 10, 1963 c. F. KRAMER 3,113,798

DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY Filed July 17. 1961 f u 1 Il (DI, l',

l I Il!" w FIG. 3 CLARENCE F. KRAMER INVENTOR.

BY ZJ W/@MZM ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,113,798 DOQR HANDLE ASSEMBLY Clarence F. Kramer, Birmingham, Alich., assigner to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 17, 1961, Ser. No. 124,515 7 Claims. (Cl. 292-3363) This invention relates to door latch mechanism actuating devices and more particularly to a push button type handle assembly adapted to be mounted on an exterior panel of an automobile door.

Handle assemblies incorporating push button latch actuating means usually comprise a hand grip and an integral push button housing, the latter being positioned for alignment with a suitable aperture in the door panel. A push button is slidably mounted within the housing and has a manually enagageble end portion projecting exteriorly of the outer end of the housing. An operating rod or stern coupled to the push button projects from the inner end of the housing in abutting relationship to a lever system forming part of or coupled to the latch mechanism.

It has been found necessary to provide a means for adjusting the effective operating rod or stern length to compensate for variations between door handle assemblies and coacting latch mechanism members. ln the simplest form of adjustment means currently in use, the rod or stem is threaded into a hole in the push button. The depth of threaded engagement determines the operating length of the stem. Although this satisffies the adjustability requirement, a disadvantage exists in that adjustment must be made with the door handle assembly dismounted from the door. Several fittings or the handle assembly on the panel may be required before satisfactory adjustment is achieved. This is time consuming, cumbersome and not always precise.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction and arrangement which permits stem adjustinent with the handle in its final assembled position and provides a means of precise adjustment with a minimum of effort. This is accomplished by providing an adjusting means available from the exterior of the handle and operable with the handle in installed position on the exterior of the vehicle door.

Other objects, advantages and features of construction of the present invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a fragmentary elevational view of a part of a door handle unit embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1 illustrating a lirst embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View in part similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view in part similar to FIG. 2 illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. l and 2, the outside door handie assembly 11 embodying the present invention cornprises certain basic components known to the prior art. That is, it comprises a handle 12 having a hand grip portion 13 and an enlarged end portion or push button housing 14 containing a chamber 15. The chamber l5 is open at its inner end 16 and at its outer end l?, the terms inner and Louter being with reference to the relationship of the chamber to a door panel 13 on which the handle assembly 1l is adapted to be mounted. The size of the outer end opening 17 is smaller than the inner end opening 16 to provide a stop shoulder or annulus 19. The chamber l5 slidably houses a push button 2l.

3,113,798 Patented Dec. 10, 1963 As shown in FIG. l, the push button is of oval cross section, but it may be of any desired shape. It will be understood that the cross sectional contour of the charnber l5 and push button 21 are usually substantially conipiernentary to one another.

The push button 21 has a flange 22 circumscribing its inner end. The flange 22 is engageable with the stop shoulder or annulus 19 thereby limiting the extent t0 which the push button may project outwardly from the housing i4. The outer end 23 of the push button 21 is manually engagcable for latch mechanism actuating movement into the housing 14.

Coupled to the push button 21 is a projecting7 rod or stern 24. This stem 24 is of sufficient length to extend a substantial distance outwardly of the inner end 16 of the housing i4. It will be noted that the opening 16 at the inner end of the housing is closed by a retainer. generally designated 25. The retainer 25 is a sheet metal stamping having a cup-shaped center portion 26 which is apertured to receive and retain a guide sleeve 27 which supports and guides the outer end of the projecting rod 24. The retainer 25 is so-cailed because it retains a compression spring 23 within the housing 14, the compression spring 28 being effective to resiliently urge the push button in an outwardly projected direction. The compression spring 2S is operative to restore the push button to its nonoperative position every time the latter has been actuated or manually pushed inwardly to actuate the door latch mechanism associated with the door handle assembly.

As illustrated, the end 29 of the projecting rod or stem 4 is shown in abutting relation to a bell crank lever 3l pivotally supported on a depending bracket 32 integral with the retainer 25. The bell crank lever 31 is connected by a suitable link 33 to the latch mechanism (not shown).

In the normal operative relationship between the flange 34 of the bell crank lever 31 and the end 29 of the projecting rod or stem 24, the end 29 of the stem 24 should just touch the liange 32 of the bell crank lever 31. If there is a gap between the two, the push button movement in latch mechanism actuating direction would be taken up in closing this gap. This could result in insuiicient travel being left for movement of the bell crank 3l to cause disengagement of the latching mechanism. lf the stem 24 is overly extended, the latch mechanism could be triggered for premature disengagement. This obviously would be undesirable from a safety standpoint. The aforementioned variations occur because of manufacturing tolerances in body structures, handle assemblies and latch mechanisms.

Accordingly, provision must be made for adjustment of the stem length to ensure precise Contact with the bell crank flange 34 or its equivalent part of the latch mechanism. In one handle assembly currently in use, the adjustment means comprises simply the provision of threads on the end of the stem 24. The stem 24 is threaded into the push button and the depth of the threaded engagement determines the effective length of the stem.

The disadvantage of this simple arrangement is that adjustments in stem length can only be made with the handle assembly dismounted from the door panel. A series of trial and error fittings may be required t0 ensure correct adjustment. And, when the handle assembly is secured to the panel, it is frequently found that panel or bracket distortion resulting from the final tightening of the fastening means throws the adjustment off. This requires the handle assembly to be removed and the adjustment process to be repeated, all of which is cumbersome and time consuming.

The foregoing disadvantages are obviated by each of the several embodiments of the present invention now to be described. Handle assemblies embodying the present invention are characterized in that they may be mounted `and securely fastened to a door panel before any attempt `at stem length adjustment is made.

Referring rst to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2, it will be noted that the projecting rod or stern 24 is provided with an enlarged serrated head 35 and a thread area 36 immediately inward of the head 3S. The stem 24 is threaded into a nut 37 which acts as a carrier for the stem. The nut 37 is threadedly or otherwise secured within a cavity in the push button, as at 33. A portion of the push button 21 which is normally exposed on the handle exterior is cored out on the underside to provide a chamber 39 housing and providing access to the serrated head 35.

With the foregoing construction and arrangement it will be readily apparent that the handle assembly 11 `may be mounted on the door panel with the stem 24 prelocated or preadjusted to meet average installation conditions. The handle assembly may be securely fastened to the panel. The push button may then be actuated to determine whether or not the end 29 of the stern 24 is in proper abutting relation to the ange 29 of the bell crank lever 31, for example. It' the desired engagement is not apparent, the serrated head 35 may be engaged by a proper tool, such as a spanner wrench or even a screw driver for rotation in a direction to increase or decrease the effective length of the stem, as required.

Referring now to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment the push button, herein designated 41, is provided with a cylindrically shaped cavity 42 housing a rotatable sleeve nut 43. At its outer end the sleeve nut 43 is rotatably journalled on a pilot 44 projecting into the cavity 42 from the end wall 45 of the push button. A retainer ring 46 holds the sleeve nut 43 within the cavity 42. The sleeve nut is provided with a serrated ilange 47 equivalent to o the serrated head 3S on the previously described embodiment. The stem, herein designated 48, is threaded into the sleeve nut 43. The end of the stem opposite its threaded end is keyed by longitudinally extending ribs 49 into the retainer 25 so that the stem will be limited if to longitudinal movement when the sleeve nut 43 is rotated.

Referring now to FIG. 4, yet another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment the stern, herein designated 51 is threaded into and through the base 52 of the push button 513. The stem 51 has a socket wrench cavity 54 in its outer end. The socl-:et wrench cavity S4 may be reached through an aperture 55' in the end wall 56 of the push button 53. This aperture 55, which would be unsightly if left uncovered, is covered or closed by a filler plug 57 after the stem adjustment has been completed. It will be understood that the plug S7 is removable on future occasions if subsequent adjustment of the stem length is required.

All of the foregoing embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that the adjustment may be made from the car exterior with the handle in the installed position on the exterior of `the door panel.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. ln a door handle assembly adapted to be mounted on a door panel and having a push button housing thereon, a push button means slidably mounted within said housing and having a manually engageable end portion projecting from one end of said housing, a latch mechanism operating rod projecting from the other end of said housing, and means connecting said operating rod to said push button means, said connecting means including adjustment means accessible through said push button means exteriorly of said one end of sait'l housing for longitudinally adjusting the effective length oi said operating rod and push button.

2. ln a door handle assembly adapted to be mounted on a door panel, said device having a push button housing thereon, a push button means slidably mounted within said housing and having a manually engageable end portion projecting from one end of said housing, said push button means having a latch mechanism outwardly opening cavity therein, a latch mechanism operating rod projecting from the other end of said housing, and means connecting said operating rod to said push button means, said connecting means including adjustment means accessible through said cavity for longitudinally adjusting the effective length of said operating rod and push button.

3. In a door handle assembly adapted to be mounted on a door panel, a push button housing adapted to project through an opening in said panel, a push button means slidably mounted within said housing and having a manually engageable end portion projecting from one end of said housing, said manually engageable end portion having a downwardly and outwardlyl opening cavity therein, a latch mechanism operating rod projecting from the other end of said housing, connecting means coupling said operating rod to said push button means for movement in a direction longitudinally of said rod, and means accessible through said cavity for longitudinally moving said rod relative to said push button means to adjust the ctiestivc length of said operating rod and push button.

4. A door handle assembly adapted to be mounted on a door panel, said handle assembly comprising a push button housing, a push button means slidable within said housing and having a manually engageable end portion projecting from and having an opening therein exteriorly of one end of said housing, a latch mechanism operating rod having a part thereof within said housing and an end portion projecting from the other end of said housing, said operating rod part having a threaded end portion projecting through said push button means into said opening, means coupling said threaded end portion to said push button means, and means accessible through said opening for adjusting the effective length of said operating rod and push button means.

5. A door latch handle assembly adapted to be mounted on a door panel, said handle assembly comprising a push button housing, a push button slidable Within said housing and having a manually engageable end portion projecting from one end of said housing, an opening in said push button, a latch mechanism operating rod having a part thereof within said housing and an end portion projecting from the other end of said housing, said operating rod port having a threaded end portion projecting through said push button into said opening, means coupling said threaded end portion to said push button, and tool engageable means on said threaded end portion accessible through said opening for rotating said rod relative to said push button to cause adjustment of the effective length of said operating rod and push button.

6. A door latch handle assembly adapted to be mounted on a door panel, said handle assembly comprising a push button housing. a push button slidable within said housing and having a manually engageable end portion projecting from one end of said housing, an opening in said push button, a latch mechanism operating rod having a part thereof within said housing and an end portion projecting from the other end of said housing, said operating rod part having a threaded end portion projecting through said push button into said opening, nut means fixed within said push button and coupling said threaded end portion to said push button, and tool engageable ymeans on said threaded end portion accessible through said opening for rotating said rod relative to said nut means to cause adjustment of the effective length of said operating rod and push button.

7. A door latch handle assembly adapted to be mounted on a door panel, said handle assembly comprising a push button housing, a push button slidable within said housing and having a manually engageable end portion projecting from one end of said housing, an opening in said push button, a latch mechanism operating rod having a part thereof within said housing and an end portion projecting from the other end of said housing, said operating rod part having a threaded end portion projecting through said push button into said opening, nut means rotatably journalled within said push button and coupling said threaded end portion to said push button, and tool engage-,able means on said nut means accessible through said opening for rotating said nut means to cause adjustment of the effective length of said operating rod and push button.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,604,346 Allen July 22, 1952 2,780,934 Ieavons Feb. 12, 1957 2,807,492 Jakeway Sept. 24, 1957 2,840,410 Jakeway June 24, 1958 2,862,753 Priestman et al Dec. 2, 1958 

1. IN A DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A DOOR PANEL AND HAVING A PUSH BUTTON HOUSING THEREON, A PUSH BUTTON MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND HAVING A MANUALLY ENGAGEABLE END PORTION PROJECTING FROM ONE END OF SAID HOUSING, A LATCH MECHANISM OPERATING ROD PROJECTING FROM THE OTHER END OF SAID HOUSING, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID OPERATING ROD TO SAID PUSH BUTTON MEANS, SAID CONNECTING MEANS INCLUDING ADJUSTMENT MEANS ACCESSIBLE THROUGH SAID PUSH BUTTON MEANS EXTERIORLY OF SAID ONE END OF SAID HOUSING FOR LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTING THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF SAID OPERATING ROD AND PUSH BUTTON. 